Pascal's Pensées eBook

I confess indeed that one of those Christians who
believe without proofs will not perhaps be capable
of convincing an infidel who will say the same of
himself. But those who know the proofs of religion
will prove without difficulty that such a believer
is truly inspired by God, though he cannot prove it
himself.

For God having said in His prophecies (which are undoubtedly
prophecies), that in the reign of Jesus Christ He would
spread His spirit abroad among nations, and that the
youths and maidens and children of the Church would
prophesy;[108] it is certain that the Spirit of God
is in these, and not in the others.

288

Instead of complaining that God had hidden Himself,
you will give Him thanks for having revealed so much
of Himself; and you will also give Him thanks for
not having revealed Himself to haughty sages, unworthy
to know so holy a God.

Two kinds of persons know Him: those who have
a humble heart, and who love lowliness, whatever kind
of intellect they may have, high or low; and those
who have sufficient understanding to see the truth,
whatever opposition they may have to it.

289

Proof.—­1. The Christian religion,
by its establishment, having established itself so
strongly, so gently, whilst contrary to nature.—­2.
The sanctity, the dignity, and the humility of a Christian
soul.—­3. The miracles of Holy Scripture.—­4.
Jesus Christ in particular.—­5. The
apostles in particular.—­6. Moses and
the prophets in particular.—­7. The
Jewish people.—­8. The prophecies.—­9.
Perpetuity; no religion has perpetuity.—­10.
The doctrine which gives a reason for everything.—­11.
The sanctity of this law.—­12. By the
course of the world.

Surely, after considering what is life and what is
religion, we should not refuse to obey the inclination
to follow it, if it comes into our heart; and it is
certain that there is no ground for laughing at those
who follow it.

290

Proofs of religion.—­Morality, Doctrine,
Miracles, Prophecies, Types.

SECTION V

JUSTICE AND THE REASON OF EFFECTS

291

In the letter On Injustice can come the ridiculousness
of the law that the elder gets all. “My
friend, you were born on this side of the mountain,
it is therefore just that your elder brother gets everything.”

“Why do you kill me?”

292

He lives on the other side of the water.

293

“Why do you kill me? What! do you not live
on the other side of the water? If you lived
on this side, my friend, I should be an assassin,
and it would be unjust to slay you in this manner.
But since you live on the other side, I am a hero,
and it is just.”

294

On what shall man found the order of the world which
he would govern?[109] Shall it be on the caprice of
each individual? What confusion! Shall it
be on justice? Man is ignorant of it.